former letters

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "former letters" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to letters that were previously written or sent, often in a historical or archival context. Example: "In the archives, we found a collection of former letters exchanged between the two leaders."

✓ Grammatically correct

Academia

Formal & Business

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Reference

Social Media

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

Former letter carrier for 37 years at various Post Offices.

The New York Times

REFERS TO FORMER LETTER Sees No New Elements Which Require Marine Officer to Continue Police Work.

The New York Times

The club presents the honor annually to a former letter winner to recognize outstanding accomplishments later in life.

The New York Times - Sports

Having grown up on the banks of the Niagara River, the son of a former letter carrier and a probation officer, he had seen art primarily in books.

The New Yorker

P. S. The hurry of time in my former letter prevented my thanking you for your polite & friendly invitation to Mount Vernon.

Yale University

A former letter carrier was arrested in May 2010 on attempted murder charges after ramming his former supervisor with a truck at an Albany, Calif., postal facility.

The Washington Post

"India Becoming: A Portrait of Life in Modern India," by Akash Kapur, former Letter From India scribe for the International Herald Tribune, a "rare insider's look at the process of development".

The New York Times

I need not adduce further arguments to establish a position so clear, I need only call to your recollection my observations in a former letter, wherein I endeavoured to shew the fallacy of the argument, that the members must return home and mix with the people.

University of Chicago

I have thus stated my opinion on a point on which we differ, not with a view to controversy, for we are both too old to change opinions which are the result of a long life of inquiry and reflection; but on the suggestion of a former letter of yours, that we ought not to die before we have explained ourselves to each other.

University of Chicago

The people by adopting the federal constitution, give congress general powers to institute a distinct and new judiciary, new courts, and to regulate all proceedings in them, under the eight limitations mentioned in a former letter; and the further one, that the benefits of the habeas corpus act shall be enjoyed by individuals.

University of Chicago

Looking over their old letters, several former students remembered an age in which behaviors were more rigidly divided by gender.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When referring to a specific collection of letters, provide context about their origin or purpose to enhance clarity. For instance, specify "former love letters" or "former business letters".

Common error

Avoid using "former letters" to refer to ongoing correspondence. Use "current letters" or "recent correspondence" instead to indicate the letters are still being exchanged.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "former letters" functions as a noun phrase, where "former" acts as an adjective modifying the noun "letters". It indicates that the letters are from a previous time or period. Ludwig AI confirms the correct usage of this phrase.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

News & Media

0%

Academia

0%

Wiki

0%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "former letters" is a grammatically correct noun phrase used to denote correspondence from a previous time. As noted by Ludwig, it is acceptable for use in various contexts. While currently showing a missing frequency due to limited examples, it is most likely to appear in contexts such as news, academic research, and general information. When using this phrase, ensure you are referring to past correspondence and, if possible, provide context to clarify the nature of the letters. Consider using alternatives like "previous correspondence" or "earlier letters" to vary your language.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

earlier letters

Uses "earlier" as a direct synonym for "former", keeping the term "letters" for direct communication.

past letters

A straightforward substitution of "former" with "past", maintaining the focus on letters.

previous correspondence

Replaces "letters" with a more formal term, "correspondence", emphasizing the official or business nature of the exchange.

old letters

Uses "old" to indicate that the letters are from a previous time.

prior communications

Broadens the scope to include all forms of communication, not just letters.

preceding letters

Indicates letters that came before the current ones in a sequence.

historical letters

Implies that the letters are significant from a historical point of view.

archived letters

Specifies that the letters have been stored in an archive.

bygone letters

Uses a more evocative term, "bygone", to suggest the letters are from a distant past.

retrospective letters

Emphasizes looking back at letters from the past.

FAQs

How can I use "former letters" in a sentence?

You can use "former letters" to refer to correspondence from the past. For example, "The historian analyzed the "old letters" to understand the political climate of that era."

What's a good alternative to "former letters"?

Depending on the context, alternatives include "previous correspondence", "earlier letters", or "past letters".

Is it correct to say "the former letter" instead of "the former letters"?

Yes, but the singular form "the former letter" refers to a single, specific letter from the past. "Former letters" refers to multiple letters from the past.

What is the difference between "former letters" and "historical letters"?

"Former letters" simply indicates letters from the past. "Historical letters" implies that the letters are significant to history and are studied for their historical value.